1 O Lord, the God Who punishes, God Who punishes, let Your light shine!

2 R ise up, You Judge of the earth. Pay what is owed to the proud.

3 H ow long will the sinful, O Lord, how long will the sinful be full of joy?

4 T hey pour out proud words. All those who do wrong, talk about themselves as if they are great people.

5 T hey crush Your people, O Lord. They bring trouble upon Your chosen nation.

6 T hey kill the woman whose husband has died and the stranger. They kill the children who have no parents.

7 A nd they say, “The Lord does not see. The God of Jacob does not care.”

8 L isten, you foolish ones among the people. You fools, when will you understand?

9 H e Who made the ear, does He not hear? He Who made the eye, does He not see?

10 H e Who punishes nations so they might give up sin, will He not speak strong words to them? Is He not the One Who teaches man all he knows?

11 T he Lord knows the thoughts of man. He knows that they are empty.

12 H appy is the man who is punished until he gives up sin, O Lord, and whom You teach from Your Law.

13 Y ou give him rest from days of trouble, until a hole is dug for the sinful.

14 F or the Lord will not turn away from His people. He will not leave His chosen nation.

15 F or what is decided will be right and good. And all those whose hearts are right will follow it.

16 W ho will rise up for me against the sinful? Who will take a stand for me against those who do wrong?

17 I f the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have been among the dead.

18 W hen I said, “My foot is going out from under me,” Your loving-kindness held me up, O Lord.

19 W hen my worry is great within me, Your comfort brings joy to my soul.

20 C an a sinful throne that brings trouble by its laws be a friend to You?

21 T hey join together against the life of those who are right and good. They send those who are not guilty to their death.

22 B ut the Lord has been my strong place, my God, and the rock where I am safe.

23 H e has brought back their own sin upon them and will destroy them for their wrong-doing. The Lord our God will destroy them.